Automatic phonograph



April 1, 1941. .1. w. wHlTLocK AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPH Filed June 2l, 192585 Sheets-Sheet 2 55 y a 705 we 45 1f 415- av VvLe-nU-f; BV ,QL M,

R15/Na su Arf smv/c AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPH Filed June 21, 1938 5Shee'rs-Sheet 3 W ai J. WHITLOCK AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAXH April l, 1941.

Filed June 2i. 193s M .HM

r fglaifaa.. IIIIIL 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 ,E1/vena@ Patented Apr. l, 1941AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPH John W. Whitlock, deceased, late of Rising Sun,

Ind., by Rising Sun State Bank, administrator,

Rising Sun, Ind., assignor to The Rudolph Wurlitzer Company, NorthTonawanda, N. Y.,

a corporation of Ohio Application June 21, 193s, sei-in No. 214,924

7 Claims.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements inautomatic .phonographs.

One of its objects is the provision of an automatic phonograph whereinthe records are supported axially on the turntable in the form of astack, and wherein means are provided for elevating the turntable todiierent elevations to bring the respective records in the stack to acommon playing position or elevation, and wherein means are provided forseparating or splitting the stack at therecord to be played to providean operating space for the movement of the tone arm for the .playing ofthe record.`

Another object of the invention is to provide a phonograph of thischaracter which is so designed as to successively play the records inthe stack from top to bottom thereof, and wherein simple and reliablecontrol means are provided for carrying out the selective playing cyclesthereof.

A further object is the provision of simple and effective means forgoverning the movements of the tone arm into and out of a playingposition and in line with the record to be played.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of an automaticphonograph of this character which is simple, compact, inexpensive andrugged in construction and whose parts are not liable to get out oforder.

Other features of the invention reside in the construction andarrangement of parts hereinafter described and particularly pointed outin the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of .the automatic phonogr-aph showing theparts in record-playing position. Figure 2 is a rear view thereof. Fig-V ure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse vertical section ftaken online 3 3, Figure 1, showing the -turntable spindle and clutch associatedtherewith. Figure 4 is a ltransverse vertical secure 9 is an enlargedfragmentary sectional elel vation view of the tone arm mounting and oneof tion taken on line 4 4, Figure 1, showing the mechanism for raisingand lowering the turntable to the proper height, the turntable beingshown in its lowered position. Figure 5 is a similar view to Figure 4,-but showing the position of the elevating assembly when the turntablereaches its maximum raised position for playing the lowermost records.Figure 6 is a horizontal section taken on line 66, Figure 2, showing thedrive mechanism control. Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary perspectiveview of one of the clutch mechanisms and associated parts. Figure '8 isa fragmentary transverse vertical section of a form of coin controlassemblywhich may be used for initiating the playing of the phonograph.Figthe adjoining stack-splitting units. Figure 10 is a vertical sectiontaken on line Ill-l0, Figure 9. Figure 11 is a fragmentarycross-sectional view of one of the records showing the protecting rimthereof.

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughoutthe several Views.

Referring now to the drawings, I0 indicates ay supporting structure orframe on which lthe working parts of the phonograph are mounted andwhich frame is adapted -to -be mounted in a cabinet of appropriatedesign. The turntable Il, which is adapted 'to support a stack ofrecords I2 for play, is fixed to a spindle I3 which extends above andbelow the turntable, the upper portion I3* thereof constituting a guidefor the records supported on the turntable, while the lower portion ofthe spindle is guided for vertical movement in the frame I0 and isadapted to be clutched in driving engagement with an upright drive shaftIl disposed axially below the spindle and in driving engagement at itslower end with s ed for swinging in a given plane of movement forplaying engagement with one or another of the records and is mounted on`an oscillatory, vertically-adjustable upright post Il!a suitably guidedin the frame I0 for bringing the needle of the tone arm laterally andvertically into and o ut of playing engagement with a given record atpredetermined :times in the cycle of operations of the machine. n

In the operation of the machine, the records on the turntable areadapted to be played successively from the top to the bottom oftherecord- .stack and the turntable is adapted to be elevated lower end ina bearing sleeve I9 rising from a cross bar 26 which constitutes aportion of the frame of' the machine. At its lower end the spindle has afeather connection with a friction clutch-collar 2l which is supportedagainst axial movement in the cross bar 20 and with which avertically-adjustable clutch-collar 22 feathered on the drive shaft I4is adapted to engage. This adjustable clutch-collar has a yoke or lever23 connected thereto for moving it into and out of clutched engagementwith the spindle-bearing clutch-collar 2|. When this yoke is shifted toan upward clutching position, the driven shaft i4 transmits motion tothe turntable-spindle and when shifted to a lower position the driveshaft is unclutched from the spindle, allowing the turntable to come torest. By this construction, also, the turntable-spindle can be Araisedor lowered -independently of the clutch elements to enable the turntableto be intermittently elevated to successively play the records from thetop to the bottom of the stack, all in the manner as will hereinafterappear.

'Ihe records l2 are provided at their edges with protecting rims 24 withwhich vertically and laterally movable record-engaging supports orfingers 25 'arranged at diametrically opposite sides of the turntable,are adapted to releasably engage for splitting the stack above thelrecord selected for play. These record-engaging supports are applied tothe upper ends of verticallyswinging levers 26 which are pivotedintermediate their ends at 21 to companion slide brackets 26 guided onupright posts 29, whereby such levers at predetermined times may beraised or lowered and rocked about their pivots to bring therecordengaging supports into and out of operative supporting relationwith -the underside of one or another of the records. At their lowerends these levers extend through forked arms 36 applied to companionvertically-adjustable posts 3i disposed parallel to the posts 29outwardly of and adjoining said levers. At their inner lower ends eachof these levers has a downwardly-inclined cam face 32 which is adaptedto engage a roller 33 journaled in a forked bracket 34 fixed on thecompanion adjustable post 3i below the corresponding forked arm 30, sothat on the upstnoke imparted to the adjustable posts the companionlevers are rocked by a wedging action in the direction about theirpivots to bring their supports 25 into supporting engagement with agiven record. A spring 35 applied to each lever 26 normally urges it tothe released position shown in Figure 9. Furthermore, each of the levers26 has a coupling pin 36 at its lower end against which the companionroller-bracket 34 is adapted to abut on its upstroke to impart anelevating movement to the levers and effect the splitting of the recordstack above the record selected for play. On the downstroke of theadjustable posts 3 l, `the record-supporting levers 26 move by gravitytherewith to restore the records on to the turntable, and during thismovement the leverpins 36 rest upon the post-brackets 34, as seen inFigure 1.

The means for transmitting motion tothe vertically-adjustable post 3l toraise and lower them to in turn control the splitting of the recordstack and the restoration of the records to their initial stackedposition, respectivelyfis preferably constructed as follows:

'I'he numeral 31 indicates a driven horizontal shaft which is journaledat its ends in bearing plates 38 and which is provided at its opposite75 ends with pinions 39 meshing with companion upright gear racks 40applied to the upright posts 3i, whereby when motion is transmitted inone direction to this shaft, the posts are elevated and when driven inthe opposite direction, the posts are lowered. Fixed on this shaft atopposite sides of the axis of the drive shaft i4 are gears 4|, 4| whichmesh with companion pinions 42, 42 fixed on companion shafts 43, 44journaled in bearing plates 45 and adapted to be clutched atpredetermined times with the drive shaft I4 to drive the shaft 31 in onedirection or the other. For this purpose the drive shaft has a bevelpinion 4l thereon which meshes with companion bevel gears 41, 43, thegear 41 being fixed on a. horizontal shaft 48 in axial alinement withthe companion pinion-shaft 43 and having a clutch-collar 50 nxed thereonto turn therewith, such companion shaft having a sliding clutch-collar5I thereon adapted to be moved into and out of clutch-engaging positionto transmit motion to the shaft 31 in a direction to effect theelevation of the posts 3| and their companion record-engaging levers 26.The bevel gear 48 is fixed on a like horizontal shaft 52 in axialalinement with the companion pinion-shaft 44 and having a clutch-collar53 xed thereon, such companion shaft having a sliding clutch-collar 54thereon adapted to be moved into and out of clutchengaging position totransmit motion to the shaft 31 in a direction to effect the lowering ofthe posts 3i and their companion record-engaging levers 26 to therebyrestore the split record-stack to initial position. During the playingof a record both clutch units 5U, 5| and 53, 5t are disengaged so thatduring the rotation of the turntable motion is idly transmitted from thebevel pinion 46 to the companion shafts 49, 52', and it is to be alsounderstood that during the selecting cycle of operations theuclutchmechanism 50, 5i is engaged while the other clutch mechanism 53, 54 isdisengaged, while during the restoration of the record stack to itsinitial position the clutch mechanism 53, 54 is engaged and the otherclutch mechanism 50, 5I is disengaged. The means for controlling theseclutch mechanisms at predetermined times are constructed as follows:

The movable clutch collars 5l, 54 of the respective clutch mechanismshave actuating levers 55 and 56, respectively, and each of these leversis actuated to and from clutch-releasing position by independentactuating means which are identical in construction and a description ofone of them will suflice for both. Each of the clutch-actual;n ing meansconsists of a horizontal slide bar 51 suitably guided on the bearingplates 45 and having a notch 58 therein with which the companionactuating lever 55 or 56 engages in the manner shown in Figure '1, sothat when the bar is shifted in one direction, one end of the notchabuts the actuating lever to shift the clutch to engaged position.Connected to the bar 51 is a vertically swinging actuating lever 59having a spring i0 connected thereto for constantly urging such leverand the clutch control bar to clutch-engaging position. A trip lever 6Idisposed over the slide bar 51 is adapted to have its notched end 62normally abut against a. stop-pin 63 disposed at the upper end of theactuating lever 59 for normally holding the clutch in released position,Upon the tripping of the lever 6I from engagement with the lever-pin 63,the spring swings the lever 59 and the slide bar 51 in a direction toswing the clutch lever 55 or 56 to clutch-engaging position to effect2,230,785 3 the motor will be maintained closed by the switch suchmeansincluding a switch 54 whose movable element is connected to a Aleverl55I operatively-as sociated with the side bar 51 ofthe elevating control clutch 58. 5| and which lever has a spring 85 connected theretofor normally urging it to switch-closing position. Applied to this slidebar is a pin or projection 51 which, in the clutch-released position ofthe bar, abuts the lever 85 to v hold it in switch-opening position. Inthe clutchengaged position of the slide bar. its pin 51 re- -cedes fromthe lever 55, allowing the latter to move under the tension of thespring 58 to switchclosing position and start the motor to drive theupright shaft I4.

l The tripping of the trip lever 5| which governs the shifting of theelevating clutch control lever 55 to engaged position is preferablycontrolled by an electromagnet 58 whose armature 59 is connected to thetrip lever in the manner shown in Figures 1 and 7, so that when themagnet is energized it swings the trip lever upwardly from latchingengagement with the lever-pin 83 and releases the slide bar 51 formovement to clutchengaging position. The energizing of the magnet may beeffected in any suitable manner, for example, by a normally-opencoin-controlled switch included in its circuit and operative to closethe circuit by a counterweighted coin-tripping lever 1| pivotallymounted on the lower end of a coin chute 12. Associated with thecoin-chute is a` horirontally-shiftable coin-trapping bar 13 which maybe urged to its inoperative position by a spring-urged lever 14 andwhich may be moved to its coin-trapping position and maintained thereinduring the selecting and playing cycle of the phonograph by a cam 15which contacts a roller 15 on the end of said bar and which is mountedon a counter shaft 11 journaled in the bearing plates 45 and driven fromthe elevating control shaft 31 through intermeshing gears 18, 19. Asshown in Figure 8, the cam 15 has a dwell 88 therein and when thephonograph is in nonplaying or at rest position, this dwell registerswith the roller of the coin-trapping bar, so that when a coin isldeposited in the chute the bar is positioned clear of the chute toallow the coin to drop onto the coin-tripping lever 1 I, thereby closingthe switch 10 to energize the magnet 58 and shift the bar 51 and clutchlever 55 to clutch-engaging position and at the same time closing theswitch 54 to start the motor |5. Motion is thence transmitted to theelevating shaft 31*` and through the gears 18, 19 to the counter shaft11, moving its cam 15 in a direction to force the coin-trapping bar 13to its operative position shown in Figure 8, In which position itremains until the start of the next selecting cycle.

A second switch 8l is included in the circuit of the motor I5, themovable element 82 thereof being disposed adjacent the cam 15 and thelatter having a projection 83 thereon which, at a predetermined time inthe record-restoring cycle and in the inoperative position of thephonograph, engages said switch element 82 to shift it to and maintainit in switch-opening position. A spring 84 normally urges the switch 8|to closed position.l This switch and the companion motor-controllingswitch 54 are so connected that when the latter is opened upon therelease of the clutch 50, 5| inthe manner hereinafter described, thecircuit of 8l vto play thel selected record and restore the splitrecord-stack jto normal, when'said 'switchf-wiilzbe opened by thecam-projection 83 'encounterin'giits movable element 82. lDuring theelevatinginpve ment` of -th'e record-engaging levers' 25 to'fefiect thesplitting o f the record-stack, th'e `shaft 11 is turned in a clockwisedirectionV viewing theleft hand end of Figure 1 orFigure 8 and duringthe lowering movementl of such levers said'shaft is turned in theopposite direction and 'at the Vend 1 will sufllce forboth.

' of thelowering movement the cani-projection 83 engages lthe switchelement 82 andfnope'ns` the switch 8|. I

The companion clutch control vassembly 53, 54, which governs thelowering of the upper split portion of the stack to its initial positionbefore selecting another record for play, is adapted to have itsactuating lever 55 tripped to clutch-engaging position in the samemanner as heretofore describedin connection with the otherclutch-control assembly. In this case the electromagnet 85 for governingthe tripping of the companion trip lever 5I is included in a circuitcontrolled by the tone arm I8 in such away that when the playing of agiven record is completed, an arm 85 projecting radially from the tonearm post I8a engages The means for restoring the respective clutchcontrol levers 55, 55 to their released position at the end of thevrespective elevating and lowering strokes of the record-engaging levers25 is controlled from the countershaft 11 and as the construction is thesame in both cases, the description of one of these clutch-releasingmechanisms Fixedly mounted on the shaft 11 -are a pair of trip arms 89,90, the arm 83 being adapted to engage a roller 9| on the clutch lever55 or 58 at a predetermined time in the cycle of operations to shift thecompanion clutch from an engaged position to a released position.

Simultaneously with this operation the companion trip arm 90 is adaptedto engage a contact roller 92 on the companion actuating lever 59 of theslide bar 51 so as to shift such lever in a direction to restore it intolatching engagement with the trip lever 5I4 associated withtheelectromagnet 58 or 85. By this construction during the elevating orrecord-splitting cycle, the clutch lever 55 is in its engaged positionand the clutch lever 55 is in its released position, and when the upperportion of the split stack reaches a predetermined position the triparms 89, 90 associated with the clutch assembly 50, 5I effects theautomatic release of the clutch. After the playing of the record iscompleted, the clutch assembly 5354 is engaged to lower the upperportion o! the split stack and when it is restored onto the turntable,the trip arms 89, 90 associated with this clutch assembly effects theautomatic release of the clutch.

Means are provided for automatically controlling the actuating lever 23associated with the turntable-spindle-clutch 2|, 22 so that when the irecord stack has been split in readiness for play- 4 operativelyconnected to the clutch lever :a sc. that at predetermined times thiscam operates toI engage. and release the clutch". v

Means are provided for adjusting the tone arm Il vertically to bring itdown into playing engagementwith a record or to elevate it clear of therecord after the playing is completed and during the winging o! the tonearm to its initial position out ardly of the turntable. For this purposea con olllng cam is nxed on the endV of the countershaft 11 and engagingthis cam is a follower roller 96 applied to the lower slip end of thetone arm post I8, This cam is so timed that the record selected forplay, the tone arm is automatically swung inwardly over the selectedrecord and then dropped onto the record due to the tone arm post-rollerregistering at that time with the dwell in the post-elevating cam 95. Atthe completion of playing of the record and as the tone arm is elevatedclear of it by the action of the cam 95, the companion key and groove 99and 90 function, at a predetermined time in the lowering of therecord-stack, to swing the tone arm outwardly to its initial position.

The means for effecting the elevating step by step movement of theturntable I a distance approximating the thickness cfa record, so thatas the records are played successively from the top to the bottom of thestack they will be played at the same elevation, is preferablyconstructed as follows: Y

Applied to the turntable spindle I2 about the bearing sleeve i9 foraxial displacement relative thereto, and abutting at its upper endagainst a collar |00 fixed on the spindle to elevate the same, is anelevating sleeve |0| having a gear rack |02 thereon meshing with anactuating pinion |03 fixed onI a horizontal shaft |04 journaled on thecross bar 20. Mounted on this shaft is a ratchet wheel |05 withwhich'inner and outer pawls |00 and |01 cooperate, the outer orescapement pawl |01 serving as a keeper and the inner one |06 serving asa feed pawl for advancing the ratchet one tooth at a time and in turncorrespondingly elevating the turntable through the rack |02 and pinion|03. The feed pawl is actuated during the selecting cycle or elevationof the record-engaging levers 26 .and for this purpose it is pivoted tothe upper end of a lift rod |01 guided in the cross.

bar and having a roller |08 engaging a cam |09 fixed on the countershaft11. A spring ||0 normally urges the lift rod toward the periphery of thecam, and a spring urges the feed pawl |06 toward the periphery of' theat its lower end ratchet wheel. A spring ||2 likewise urges theescapement pawl |01 toward the ratchet wheel. The upper end of the feedpawl |06 abuts at its inner edge against a stop pin ||3 on an arm ||4extending inwardly from the pawl |01 and serves at predetermined timesto retain said feed pawl clear of the ratchet wheel |05, as during thelowering movement of the turntable. When the lowest record of the stackhas been played, the turntable is allowed to drop by gravity to itsinitial position and for this purpose the pawl |01 is adapted to betripped to released position by La aasenss -ftappet arm lll looselymounted on the Il(A and actuated"by a pin III projecting from the faceof the ratchet wheel.' At apredetermined time, the tappet arm is movedto a position to release the pawl' |l1 from the ratchetV wheel, fol`lowing which the turntable drops b'y gravity to starting position forrepeating the playing of the records from` the top to the bottom of thestack.

At the start of the selecting cycle, the turntable Il is. moved upwardlyaldistance approximating the thickness of a record by the cam |09, andassociated parts, whereby the record to beplayed ispositioned at theproper playing elevation and is immediately below the supporting fingers2l of the elevating levers 2|. During this timethe elevating posts 3|are raised idly until the turntable is properly positioned, after whichthe post-brackets Il encounter the' tapered lower ends of the levers 20to first swing them inwardly in supporting engagement with that recordimmediately above the one to be played and thereafter such brackets abutthe correspondingpins 30 on such levers to impart an elevating movementto the latter and split the record stack to provide an operatingclearancefor the playing and return movements of the tone arm. On thedown stroke of the elevating posts 3|, the swinging of the levers 2E toreleased position takes place at the end of such stroke, and thelowering of the feed pawl |00 for governing the step by step elevationof the turntable is timed by the cam |09 to take place at the same time,whereby the parts are in'position for the subsequent selecting cycle ofoperations.

The invention claimed is:

1. In an automatic phonograph, a verticallyadjustable turntable having astack of records thereon adapted to be supported as a unit or in part onthe turntable when playing a record, a sound reproducing unit operablein a given plane of movement for playing engagement with one or anotherof the records, ratchet feed means for adjusting said turntable todifferent elevations for bringing the respective records to the playingelevation oi' the reproducing unit, and adjustable means forselectivesupporting engagement with and for elevating those records inthe stack above the record to be played to provide an overhead clearancetherefor, said record-supporting and elevating means includinglaterally-adjustable elements disposed at opposite sides of theturntable for movement into and out of supporting engagement with one oranother of the records, and elevating members disposed alongside saidlaterally-adjustable elements for movement independently thereof andhaving means thereon engageable with the latter for moving themlaterally at predetermined times into and out of supporting engagementwith a record and for coupling such elements therewith tomove in unisonwith said elevating members.l

2. In an automatic phonograph, a verticallyadjustable turntable having astack of records thereon for successive play from top to bottom of thestack and adapted to be supported as a unit or in part on the turntablewhen playing a record, a sound reproducing unit operable in a givenplane of movement for playing engagement with one or another o i.' therecords, means for adjusting said turntable in step by step fashion apredetermined distance to different elevations for bringing therespective records to the playing elevation of the reproducing unit, andadjustable means for selective supporting in the stack above the recordto be played to4 provide an overhead Vclearance` therefor, said play,said means including a drive shaft, a pair of reversely driven shaftsgeared to said driven record-supporting and' elevating means Iincludinglaterally-adjustable elements pivoted intermediate their upper and lowerends and disposed at opposite sides of the turntable for movement tobring their upper ends into and out of supporting engagement with one oranother of. the records, elevating members disposed alongside saidlaterally-adjustable elements for movement independently thereof andhaving means thereon engageable with the lower ends of the latter formoving them'at predetermined times into and out of supporting engagementwith a record and for coupling such elements therewith to move in unisonwith said elevating members, driven means operatively connected to saidelevating members for raising and lowering them, clutch means forcontrolling said driven means to raise and lower the elevating members,and means for automatically governing said clutch means.

3. In an automatic phonograph, a verticallyadjustable turntable having astack of records thereon adapted to be supported as a unit or in part onthe turntable when playing a record, a sound reproducing unit operablein a given plane of movement for playing engagement with one or anotherof the records, means for adjusting said turntable todifferentelevations for bringing the respective records to the playingelevation of the reproducing unit, and adjustable means for selectivesupporting engagement with and for elevating those records in the stackabove the record to be played to provide an overhead clearance therefor,said record-supporting and elevating means includinglaterally-adjustable elements disposed at opposite sides of theturntable for movement into and out of supporting engagement with one oranother of the records, elevating members disposed alongside saidlaterally-'adjustable elements and having means thereon engageable withthe latter for moving them at predetermined times into and out ofsupporting engagement with a record and for coupling such. elementstherewith to move in unison with said elevating members, driven meansoperatively, connected to said elevating members for raising andlowering them, independent clutch means for controlling said drivenmeans to govern the up and down-stroke movements of the elevatingmembers, respectively, means operatively conected to the up-strokecontrolling clutch means for initiating its clutchengaging position,means operatively connected to the down-stroke controlling clutch meansand governed by the tone arm when it reaches the end of its playingposition for initiating such clutch means to clutch-engaging position,and means operatively connected to both of said clutch means forshifting them to clutch-releasing positions at predetermined times intheup and down-stroke movements of the elevating members.

4. In an automatic phonograph, a turntable having a stack of recordsthereon adapted to be supported as a unit or in part on the turntablewhen playing a record, adjustable means for selective supportingengagement with and for elevating those records in the stack above therecord to be played to provide an overhead clearance therefor, and meansfor actuating said adjustable means'for eiecting the splitting of therecord stack for playing a given record and for restoring the stack toits initial position after shaft and adapted to be operatively connectedto said adjustable means for governing its recordsupporting positionsand its up and down-strokes, respectively, clutch means associated withsaid driven shafts for governing their operative'connection to saidadjustable means, means operatively connected to one of said clutchmeans for controlling its movement to clutch-engaging position toactuate the adjustable means to stacksplitting posi-tion, meansoperatively connected to the other clutch means for controlling itsmovement to clutch-engaging position to actuate the adjustable means tostack-restoring position; and means for restoring the respective clutchmeans to clutch-releasing position at predetermined times in the up. anddown-stroke movements of `said adjustable means.

5. In an automatic phonograph, a tone arm, a vertically-adjustableturntable adapted to support a plurality of records in stack-likefashion for successive play from top to bottom of the stack, meansselectively engageable with one or another yof 'the records forsupporting and elevating those records above a record to be played toprovide an overhead clearance space for the operation of .the tone arm,means for actuating said record-engaging means to provide such overhead'clearance, ratchet feed means correlated with said actuating means andsaid turntable and operable at a predetermined time in the selectingcycle of the former for vertically adjusting the turntable -tosuccessively varying elevations to play the several records at theoperating elevation of the tone arm, and means operatively engageablewith said ratchet feed turntable elevating means for releasing thelatter from said actuating means at a predetermined time in the maximumelevational adjustment of the turntable whereby to permit rthe turntableto be restored to its initial or lowest position oi' adjustment. 6. Inan automatic phonograph, a vertically'- adjustable turntable adapted tosupport a plurality of records thereon in stack-like fashion forsuccessive playing from the top to the bottom of the stack, releasabledrive means for elevating said turntable in step by step fashion tosuccessively bring the records thereon to a common selective playingelevation, means engageable with one or another of the records forsupporting and elevating those records above a record to be played vtoprovide an overhead clearance space therefor and for returning suchrecords onto the turntable after playing of the selected record, a soundreproducing unit movable in the space provided over the selected recordfor playing engagement therewith, means correlated 'with said releasabledrive means for automatically releasing it for elevating engagement.with .the turntable after Ithe bottom record has been played to causethe turntable to drop by gravity to its initial position, and means foractuating the foregoing mearls.

7. In an automatic phonograph, a'verticallyadjustable turntable adapted'to support a plurality of records thereon in stack-like fashion forsuccessive playing from the top to the bottom of the stack, releasabledrive means for elevating said turntable instep by step fashion tosuccessively bring the records thereon to a common selective playingelevation, means engageable with one or another of the records forsupporting and elevating those records above a vrecord to be played toprovide an overhead clearance space therefor and for returning suchrecords onto the turntable after playing of the selected record, a soundreproducing unit movable in the space provided over the selected recordfor playing engagement4 therewith, an oscillatory verticallyadjustablesupport for said reproducing unit i'or elevating the latter clear o! therecord after its playing and before the return o( the elevated portionoi.` the record-stack on to the turntable, means for actuating saidreproducing unit suppor-t at predetermined times in the playing cycle tobring it into and out of playing engagement with a record, meansoperatively connected to RISING sUN STATE BANK,

0 Administrator of the Estate of John W. Whitlock,

Deceased, l

By LUCIAN HARRIS.

Its President.

